Rather safe than Sorry

But Noah proved that two could play that game and poked a whole in her reasoning instantly. "You mean that friendship that you broke off and only got back a few weeks ago? Yeah, some credibility you have there. So, I hope that you won't be able to give up so easily on our marriage as you did with that friendship you hold so dear." Laila gasped. "Mi-auw Noah. Don't you think that jab was a little too soon?" But Noah shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry if that was mean but you were the one who brought up and as a reason for hugging another man in front of me no less." Laila pinched both of his cheeks and said, "Why you little. What do you mean 'another man'. It was your friend. Your best friend. There is no need for you to treat him like the enemy or me like a cheater for getting along with each other."

Noah folded his hands over Laila's and gently loosened her grip on his cheeks as he turned his body towards hers before he said, "When it comes to you, I would rather be safe than sorry. These days you hear about fathers cheating with their own son's wife. If you aren't careful, you might just come to regret it later on. Though I don't really think you or Steve will ever betray me. I just don't like you getting too friendly with him exactly because he is my friend. If anything should ever happen, I would not only lose you but also my friend."

Then he let out a deep breath, he moved his hands to Laila's lower back and placed his head against her belly as said, "But at the same time, I don't want to restrict you in any way. I know the things Jake used to do and I never want to treat you the same way he did. Not in any way." Noah sounded so upset at that moment. Upset with himself. An emotion that showed on his face as well when he looked back up at Laila to continue speaking. "That is why I held myself back in responding or acting in that moment. So, if you find it important to have a certain kind of relationship with Steve, then I won't hold you back. Just ignore my grumblings and do what you feel is necessary and what you feel comfortable with. I will get used to it over time or I will at least get over it."

As Noah was talking, Laila was running her fingers through his hair, looking at his deep and captivating eyes. Wanting to do nothing more than to hug him but wanting him to be able to finish what he was saying. So, she patiently waited for him to finish before she smiled and rubbed his cheeks with her thumbs. She placed a kiss on his lips and said, "You are in no way, shape or form, similar to Jake. You telling me that you don't want to restrict me and to ignore your feelings in the situation is enough proof of that. But you not wanting to be like him, is no reason for you to not voice what you think or how you feel. If my hugging is making you uncomfortable or brings out any type of negative feelings for you, I won't do it anymore. I doubt Maria will like it very much either. Not now that they are courting nor once they get together. So, for my two favourite people in the world, I will stick to just exchanging words with him. Okay?" Noah nodded. After placing two more pecks on his lips, Laila pulled him tightly against her chest, being obstructed a bit by her belly that was growing a bit with each passing day.

While Noah and Laila were strengthening their relationship downstairs, upstairs Steve was doing his best to start a relationship of his own with Maria. He had used his time upstairs to write Maria a note that she could read once she woke up. Once he finished writing, he sprayed it with his cologne. Using the tricks that had survived the ages. Though it was usually the women who put their perfume on their letters, there was no rule that said that men couldn't be the one to add some fragrance to their letters. Since he was the one doing the wooing, he might as well pull out all the stops. What better way to express his sincerity than with a handwritten letter?

After getting himself ready for work, he slid the letter underneath Maria's room-door before cheerfully making his way back down the stairs. Even skipping down the steps. Having worked for his own romance, he didn't want to potentially disturb Noah and Laila's romance. So, instead of walking into the dining room to get Noah, he knocked against the in-between that lead to the dining room and said, "Let's go Noah. Otherwise we'll be late." Giving his friend the time to say his goodbyes without him being a spectator.

Reluctantly Noah got ready to leave. He had still been in his hug with Laila and he didn't want to leave. But since he had to be home to help Laila as she tried to set up the cameras and microphones in Olivia's home, he needed to make the most of the time he had until then. He gave Laila another tight squeeze, got up from his chair to cup her face and give her a big kiss before he said, "I have to go now. Good luck with Olivia and work. Let me know how things turn out and remember, I am only a call away and don't push yourself." After one more kiss, this time on her forehead, Noah dashed towards the door. He turned around once more to wave goodbye before he left the room and headed to work together with Steve. Marking the start of all of their busy days.